2010/11/17 by C. Koumeir, Charbel Koumeir, Koumeir, C. +12
Engineering · Physics and Astronomy · #FOS: Physical sciences #Ion-surface interactions and analysis #Nuclear Experiment (nucl-ex) #Nuclear Physics and Applications #X-ray Spectroscopy and Fluorescence Analysis #nucl-ex
paper · pdf · doi:10.48550/arxiv.1011.4057
Proceeding of European Conference On x-ray spectrometry 20-25 June 2010 Figueira da Foz, Coimbra, PORTUGAL
arxiv created 2010/11/17 · openalex publication_date 2010/11/17 · arxiv updated 2010/11/18 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/28
Proton Induced X-ray Emission (PIXE) using high energy protons is a non destructive multi elemental technique that can analyze medium and heavy trace elements on thick samples. A new experimental setup is being built at the ARRONAX facility (Nantes, France) for such purpose. Tests have been made in order to quantify the background induced by a 68 MeV proton beam on a 250μm copper target. Our measurement has been compared with expected theoretical value including the various components of the bremsstrahlung and the Compton induced by gamma rays. This study has allowed us to determine a detection limit of the order of tens of ppm and has shown also the different ways to improve it. Amongst them are a better shielding of the detector and the use of lower beam intensity. Another ways consist to use the prompt gamma rays emitted by the interaction of the beam with the target nucleus as well as the registration of the decay of the activation product after the end of the bombardment. This activation and especially the production of long lived radionuclide can be controlled by tuning the proton energy and intensity resulting in a low activation which is not prejudicial to most of the samples and with almost no effect on the PIXE performances.